Voltaire

Tyrants have always some slight shade of virtue; they support the laws before destroying them.

The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say; but the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon, or a didactic work.

Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent.

An ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination.

This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it.

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.

The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.

Blows are sarcasm’s turned stupid.

Its proper use is to amuse the idle, and relax the studious, and dilute the full meals of those who cannot use exercise, and will not use abstinence.

I’m not denyin’ the women are foolish. God Almighty made ’em to match the men.

The search after the great men is the dream of youth, and the most serious occupation of manhood.

As Love ought to bring them together, so it is the best Way to keep them well together.

Already know you that which you need.

Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.

It always seems impossible until its done.

It is easier to stay out than get out.

Courage is exhilarating.

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men – that is genius.

The sum of wisdom is that time is never lost that is devoted to work.

When a man is just and firm in his purpose, the citizens burning to approve a wrong or the frowning looks of a tyrant. Do not shake his fixed mind, nor the Southwind. Wild lord of the uneasy Adriatic, nor the thunder in the mighty hand of Jove: Should the heavens crack and tumble down, as the ruins crushed him he would not fear.

A man never tells you anything until you contradict him.